Category: Article about Aldis

Icons now, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Ren, MC Yella and Eazy-E began their storied lives just trying to survive and prosper in the meanest ‘hood in L.A.

“I was watching TV in a New York hotel room when I saw Ice Cube on Queen Latifah [the talk show], and she asked what he was doing next,” recounts Oscar-nominated cinematographer (and lifelong rap/hip-hop fan) Matthew Libatique, ASC. “When Cube said a film called Straight Outta Compton, I literally jumped up and grabbed the phone. For the first time in my career, I called my agent and said I really want that project.”

Fortunately for Libatique, he and Compton director, F. Gary Gray, shared the same agency. They met on Oscar day, 2014, to discuss the film. As Libatique picks up the story: “I remember walking into Gary’s office and seeing this wall of images – one image per scene in chronology with the script. I had come to that meeting with some general ideas about camera movement, but nothing textural that related to color or mood.

“These images, which were basically snapshots by friends or people who were around N.W.A. at that time and happened to have a camera, were completely naturalistic. They put you right there in that time and place, in the recording studios, the concert tours, the photo and video shoots, right on the streets.”

Libatique says the office images felt like a good starting point, “because to me this movie was an origin story about superheroes,” he adds. “I remember telling Gary [in that first meeting] how I read a lot of comic books as a kid, and my favorites were always the origin stories – the ones that showed how Batman or Superman or the Green Lantern became who they are. That’s what Straight Outta Compton is – an origin story about people who ultimately become larger than life in the eyes of pop culture.”

The superhero metaphor (from the man who shot Ironman and Ironman 2) is well placed. The Los Angeles where the transformative gangsta rap group known as N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) came of age was as treacherous and crime-ridden as any in the history of that city. Rival Crips and Bloods gangs ruled the streets with crack-cocaine empires, while a militarized LAPD waged indiscriminate war on criminals and civilians alike. Black teenagers (especially those with phone pagers) were ever-moving targets.

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Straight Outta Compton, the artful N.W.A biopic, has topped the box office two weekends in a row, earning a staggering $111.5 million. Eight facts that moviegoers probably don’t know about the hip-hop hit.

1. It has Lupita Nyong’o’s seal of approval.

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o has mad pride for Corey Hawkins (as a young Dr. Dre), whom she calls “irresistible.” (They met while shooting her 2014 thriller Non-Stop.) His background is impressive: Hawkins is a Juilliard School graduate who starred on Broadway in Romeo and Juliet, playing Tybalt.

2. This crew has history.

There’s a reason director F. Gary Gray nailed the tone of N.W.A’s story: He has known this crew for years. Early on, Gray helmed music videos for Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, including It Was A Good Day, “which is the four-minute version of Friday to me,” Ice Cube said in a YouTube roundtable recently. (1995’s Friday was Gray’s feature debut.) “It’s the same thing that Spike (Lee) does in New York. He makes our neighborhoods look beautiful. … It’s more about the humanity than just all the hood (stuff) they can show.”

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Straight Outta Compton is having a killer opening weekend, pulling in a projected $56.1 million and scoring rave reviews from the majority of film critics and fans. And after a screening for Academy Award voters the N.W.A. biopic is now being seen as one of the first potential Oscar contenders of the year.

According to THR, Universal has become “bullish” about the film’s award show prospects. Attendance was higher than usual at Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, which screens most major releases. Those in attendance gave a round of applause to Compton’s pre-credit scene, with the warm reception continuing after the film ended.

“It succeeds as a studio picture while transcending what that usually is,” an Academy member told THR. “It’s a very visceral, poetic, terrific film. It is worthy of some real consideration, particularly I think for acting, directing and even best picture—but, but, it’s very early in the season, and there are a zillion other pictures coming out.”

While it’s still very early, Compton could become the surprise Oscar contender for 2016. But it’d be far from the first time N.W.A. shocked the world.

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On Friday, August 14, Straight Outta Compton cast members Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown, Jr., Aldis Hodge, O’Shea Jackson, Jr., and Corey Hawkins made surprise appearances at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and Cinemark 18 Theaters in Los Angeles. Excited guests took photos with the cast as well as received signed posters prior to viewing the film. Check out snaps from the cast and their lucky fans below.

This is Me: Aldis Hodge

Although he is best known as Alec Hardison on TNT’s crime series “Leverage” (which sadly ended in December), Aldis Hodge has a mysterious appeal which makes us want to learn more about him. Plus, we already featured his brother who is also an actor!

Are there any characteristics of Alec’s that apply to you in real life? Or do you see yourself as a completely different person?

I am very much a completely different person, however Alec and I do share similar taste in sarcasm as well as a knack for wanting to do the right thing for people.

What about the more artistic side of Aldis? What kind of work do you produce as an artist and where do you hope to go with it?

I produce abstract paintings on canvases that I usually build and stretch myself. I hope to have them hanging in a gallery like LACMA or MOCA one day.

Last year we got the wonderful opportunity to also interview your brother, Edwin. Can you tell us, from your perspective, what it’s like being in the same industry as him? Have you two ever worked together, or is there a line between business and family?

We started off working together with print, “Sesame Street,” “Showboat” on Broadway, “Die Hard With a Vengeance”… the list goes on. He even did an episode of “Leverage.” This business has always been a family affair and will always continue to be.

When you’re not so busy on set, what do you give your time to? Any favorite hobbies or guilty pleasures?

Most of my time is spent designing watches, focusing on building an horology company, or trying to develop new tv or film productions.

If you had one day of complete freedom, what would you choose to do? Where would you go and with whom would you share it with, if anybody?

I get those days pretty often, most of which I simply choose to be lazy. But the other times I just kick it with my lady or my family.

Now we know you dipped your feet into acting since you were very young and have been occupied with that since then, but is there another skill you’ve always wanted to try or pickup?

As far as this industry goes, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Now if only I could conquer my procrastination problem I might actually get there.

Because you were involved so early in age, you must have numerous accounts of experiences. Can you recall any that you just absolutely loved, or thought, “Whew, glad that’s over”?

I loved the entire “Leverage” experience, “Showboat,” and “Sesame Street” the most because they were all the most fertile teaching grounds for me during a time when I was often oblivious to the lessons until they snuck up on me. On the flip side, I recall a few auditions that I couldn’t wait to get done with. Dealing with rude casting directors is such a journey.

Do you see yourself continuing in this field, or do you have other goals you wish to pursue?

I’ve always said that I’m going to probably die in a director’s chair at 105 years old! I will always be in this business, but, that being said, this business is just one small facet of proof of my potential. I am much more beyond just this and I plan to explore as much of myself as possible (e.g. my pursuit of building watches, architecture, car design, jet design, etc…)

Is there any role you dream of playing, whether the role has already been played or is created by yourself?

I’ve always wanted to play a comic book character, but now that I’ve shot my new pilot called “The Sixth Gun” based off the graphic novel of the same title I can say that I have. Next thing on my list is to save the world from aliens or terrorists.

If you could go back in time, would you give yourself as a child any piece of advice on what to expect or what not to expect?

Practice patience, finish all of what you start, and keep promises to yourself.

The TV shows I can’t miss:
“I’m pretty stuck on Iron Chef and Chopped. I love the culinary world, and I enjoy seeing those people create edible art.”

The best movie I’ve seen lately:
“Avengers. It was exciting and funny when you’d least expect it. If only they’d introduce an Avenger in the sequel named Black Panther. I know the perfect actor to play him — hint, hint!”
Aldis stars on TNT’s Leverage, returning July 15 at 8 p.m.

Since news broke that Marvel Studios’ 2014 Captain America sequel may be followed by a big-screen adaptation of The Black Panther, potential T’Challa contenders have been modestly campaigning for the King of Wakanda. Via Examiner, the latest is actor Aldis Hodge. When asked if he favored a comic book series, Hodge replied:

“Growing up I was a fan of Black Panther and X-Men comic books. I was also a huge Batman fan. There’s recently been a little buzz online about Marvel pushing for Black Panther, and I’ve been in love with the idea for years. I want the fans to know that the one role I really want to play is Black Panther. I grew up loving the Marvel world, and grew up on martial arts. I still train. When Black Panther came around, he was almost like an African American Batman.”

Aldis Hodge, 25, is best known for his Alec Hardison role on the TNT Leverage TV series, which landed him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Television. He has also appeared in Supernatural among many shows. And he currently has two films, The East and Lives of the Saints, in production. What do you think?

Created by writer-editor Stan Lee & penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, “The Black Panther” (T’Challa) first appeared in “Fantastic Four #52,” and is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics. Back in January of 2011, Hollywood trades revealed that documentary writer Mark Bailey (“Ghosts of Abu Ghraib”) was hired to pen a live-action screenplay focused on the Wakandan king, for Marvel Studios. And recent claims indicate that “The Black Panther” adaptation could officiate Walt Disney Pictures’ currently-untitled June 27, 2014 release date.

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According to the usually reliable, Latino Review, the next standalone Marvel film after Captain America 2 will be The Black Panther.

With a screenplay by Mark Bailey, the film would represent a serious effort by Disney/Marvel Studios to go after the urban market.

The character, who first appeared in 1966, was one of the first prominent African-American heroes in comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Black Panther was actually T’Challa, King of the African nation of Wakanda, and has superior senses and abilities. Wakanda is also the Earth’s only source of Vibranium, a rare element with near indestructible properties. Both Wakanda and Vibranium have been already mentioned in previous Marvel films (Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger, respectively).

Wesley Snipes was attached to the project almost two decades ago, and over the years, Djimon Hounsou and Chiwetel Ejiofor have all been mentioned to be “in discussions for the role.”

Leverage” costar Aldis Hodge, fresh back from London and the first “Leverage” convention in the U.K., still sounds somewhat awed by the fan interaction there.

“I know it sounds a little weird, but there was this woman who made these really awesome dolls of everyone in the cast — hand-stitched and everything. It shows the kind of time and dedication people devote to this show,” he says. Did she capture him? “I don’t know if she captured me, but she definitely captured Hardison,” he answers, referring to his character.

There were also funny moments. Hodge relates that he and his mom were in an elevator when a fan told him he had a voice “like dark melted chocolate.” Also, “There was a little four-year-old girl who drew a picture for me. That was pretty cool. That had to be my favorite thing,” he says.

“Leverage” continues to be hugely popular at home, too. With its fifth season already assured, he reports that the team will go back to work in March.

Meanwhile, Hodge says he likes the occasional departure episodes the series creators have been throwing into the mix this season — including the recent “The Office Job” that borrowed style elements from “The Office” comedy, and the current “Girls Night Out Job”/”Boys Night Out Job” two-parter that ends Sunday (12/18).

“You know, it’s always a risk. I hope the audience loves it, or loves us enough to stay loyal,” he says. “You’ve got to play it year by year. I enjoy taking risks and breaking away now and then.”

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